Fortunately, the cup of tea was not enough to disfigure Yelena. “Uncle Yuri! This bastard splashed hot tea at me! Kill him! Kill him!” Yelena dared not challenge Kaze alone anymore. She stepped away and begged her uncle to avenge her. Yuri stared at Kaze coldly and said, “Yelena, don’t worry. When the members of the guild arrive, this little bastard will be dead. “Many top companies are members. This little bastard here has no idea how powerful they are!” He was calming Yelena down and threatening Kaze at the same time. Kaze was unfazed. He sat down calmly and made more tea for himself and Darcy. “Mr. President, I’ve called them!” A moment later, Lawson came back with his phone. Yuri glanced at Kaze before he asked, “How many of them refused to come, mark their names. After I get Kaze Lee, I’ll go after them. They will be kicked out of the guild.” He actually wanted to know how many members would show up because it reflected his connections and reputation. “Mr. Pr
More than a hundred members of the guild, all influential figures in their respective fields, arrived. Under the lead of Bernard, Peter, and Jack, they all swarmed into the room, which was the HQ of Lilyrose Commerce Guild. Not even the founding day of the guild saw this many people. It was a grand scene to behold and Yuri was absolutely flattered and honored. His lips and bloodstained beard were twitching in excitement. Yelena and Lawson were thrilled as well. They had never seen such a scene before. With the signal from Yuri, Lawson stepped up. “Members of Lilyrose Commerce Guild, I summoned all of you today because our president, Yuri Kosky, was slapped by someone, in this place, the HQ of the guild! “Look at the president’s face! It was that little bastard who did it! The president is a pioneer in the business field and a reputable elder, yet that punk slapped him multiple times! “I believe many of you are around the same age as our president. So, if we don’t make t
After four consecutive slaps, not only was Yuri stunned, but the other members of the three families were also frozen. They looked at each other before they looked at the three heads of families and Lewis. Then, they saw the person on the couch, who was enjoying his tea as if he was not part of the conflict. Slap! Another member went up to slap Yuri. “I'm leaving!” “I quit!” “Me too!” Each slap was followed by their exit from the guild. In just a blink of an eye, Yuri got slapped a dozen times again. His body finally collapsed on the floor, his gaze turned blank. His face was swollen after being slapped innumerable times. The other members were still coming and if this continued, Yuri might be slapped to death. Bernard felt sorry for the man. He frowned and said, “Guys, don’t just slap the man. There’s also his niece and the guild’s exec.” The niece and guild’s exec? Yelena and Lawson could not even react in time and they were surrounded. Slap! The slap
Yuri was beyond help if he still could not take a hint. The heads of Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars took orders from Kaze. Despite learning the truth, Yuri could not wrap his head around the reason. “It doesn’t make any sense! You’re just a loser. Why would anyone act on your directions?” Yuri climbed to his feet in rage and glared at Kaze. “Do you think you can go over my head because these prominent families answer to you, bastard?“You are delusional! “You’re idiots, Bernard, Peter. Do you think you can walk all over me? “Well, you’re underestimating me.“Do you know that my efforts will push Lilyrose Commerce Guild to become a subsidiary of Four Ocean Commerce Guild? I will become a council member of Four Ocean Commerce Guild. “Once that happens, prestigious families and financing platforms meant squat to me.“You will all pay, that includes those who assaulted me.” Yuri shouted manically at everybody. He had lost it after his members and Kaze slapped his face.
It was Max, the commissary sent to Lilyrose to observe Darcy. Max glanced at Yuri, who was groveling, and said, “I am authorized to represent Four Ocean Commerce Guild to discuss restructuring Lilyrose Commerce Guild as a city-level branch.” He then shifted his gaze to the three family heads and asked nonchalantly, “Are you members of Lilyrose Commerce Guild? This saves me the trip of notifying you.” Max sounded certain that Lilyrose Commerce Guild would operate under Four Ocean Commerce Guild. The opinions of others did not matter. Yuri decided to throw Bernard and the others under the bus. He said apologetically, “Close to a hundred members led by the Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars are quitting the guild just before you arrived, Mr. Kang. “I’m the only member left in the guild.” Yuri was full of hot air. He went as far as to expose his vulnerability to the commissary of Four Ocean Commerce Guild. Bernard and the others led a group of members to withdraw their memb
One moment ago, Max cockily put down the Vikroms, Logmans, and Joestars. Now, Max dropped to his knees after Kaze asked a question. No one saw it coming. Even Darcy’s jaw dropped to the ground. Something must have happened when Kaze went to Landor residential area as Max appeared terrified of him. Bernard and the others were taken aback. The members of Lilyrose Commerce Guild were dumbstruck. Max was the commissary of Four Ocean Commerce Guild. He basically ran the South River state with a giant like Four Ocean Commerce Guild backing him up. Yet, he kneeled before Kaze. “Yuri wanted you to kneel, not me, Mr. Lee!” Dismissing the looks all around, Max shouted at Kaze with a crying face. He did not expect to see Kaze there. As a witness to the incident in Landor residential area, Max knew how scary the man was. Even a highborn like Leigh was not saved from Kaze’s rough handling, much less Max. Kaze sat next to Darcy on the sofa with no intention of getting up. H
Now that Max kneeled before Kaze, Yuri no longer wanted to get into it with Kaze. However, Kaze walked ahead without looking at Yuri. Standing still, Kaze stared at Bernard, Jack, Peter, and the members who withdrew their membership from Lilyrose Commerce Guild. “Mr. Lee.” Close to a hundred members acknowledged Kaze’s presence. Darcy’s eyes welled up. Once upon a time, the public saw Kaze as the loser who mooched off his wife. Now, Lilyrose’s finest entrepreneurs showed respect to Kaze. “You are so badass today, babe,” Darcy murmured while covering her mouth. Not catching his wife’s remark, Kaze said with a smile, “Thank you for the honor. I have met many friends in Lilyrose’s business scene.”“We’re just doing our part,” the group answered. Kaze waved his arm, and the chatter quieted down. Kaze said, “I humbly seek a favor to rejoin Lilyrose Commerce Guild.” Huh? Everybody was taken aback by Kaze’s request. The members including Bernard, Peter, and Jack dec
“Huh?” Yuri slumped to the ground, his eyes losing luster. It never occurred to him that Kaze would forcefully boot him out of the commerce guild. Yuri did not know what he was supposed to do now. All members of Lilyrose Commerce Guild looked at Kaze as their leader. Max, the representative of Four Ocean Commerce Guild, kneeled near the sofa and kept slapping himself. Yuri fell into despair. Kaze had decided his fate. Yuri did not even have a chance to retaliate. “Take your niece and students and leave.” Without looking at Yuri, Kaze said his piece and went to Max. With his back facing the crowd, Max whipped his face to the point of bleeding.However, Max dared not stop until Kaze said so. “That’s enough.” Kaze’s voice from the back was a godsend. Max put down his sore arm and turned to face Kaze with a swollen face. He said, “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Lee?” “How’s the vehicle ownership transfer coming along?” Kaze asked while taking a
“Whoosh!” The swift swing of the dagger left a huge cut on Kaze’s shirt at the abdomen. The old man had switched his stance to kneeling on one knee. The pain in his eyes had been replaced by frosty murderous intent, with a hint of shock and resentment as if he did not expect Kaze to dodge the lethal blow. “Old man, you’re a wicked one.” Kaze was also shocked. He looked down at his collar T-shirt and the wide opening at his stomach. The chilling wind on his skin sent chills down his spine. A split second later he would be gutted on the spot. “Swoosh!” After missing the ambush, the old man jumped like a nimble fox for a follow-up attack. This time, he switched his target from Kaze to Darcy. The dagger in his hand glared coldly as it thrusted toward Kaze’s chest. He was shocked that Kaze was able to dodge his lethal blow. He also realized Kaze was a tough opponent, so he switched to an easier one—Darcy. He acted like a gambler who had lost everything. With nothing
“Huh?” Phoenix narrowed her eyes and shot a sharp gaze at Joan. “Thump!” Joan fell on her knees immediately, looking horrified. “I-Impossible! My family spent tens of millions to make this walking cane, how can it…” Her family members were also similarly horrified, all falling onto their knees after her and even prostrating on the ground. If they were charged with attempted murder on Phoenix’s life, she and her entire family would be uprooted completely. Phoenix’s expression darkened. With gritted teeth, she said, “Take all of them away and investigate what really happened!” Her men who followed her from Ridgesouth came up, dragging Joan and her family away despite them crying for help. Those who resisted were slapped and knocked out before being shoved into the car. “Kaze, how did you know about the walking cane?” Agnes asked, her voice trembling. She felt grateful for escaping what seemed to be a disaster. Kaze’s offensive behavior shocked her, but it was to expos
“Huh?! Y-You hit me?!” Joan screamed as she covered her face. “Madam Quint, do something about this monkey! He’s disrespecting you and slapped me in front of everyone!” “You wretched boy, on your knees!” Phoenix’s expression darkened, her eyes on Kaze resentful. “If your family failed to teach you manners, I’ll do it for them!” “Greedy, self-righteous, ignorant, use your age to pressure others…” Kaze was determined to teach Phoenix a lesson about shame and humility today, so there was no way he would show her any respect. “People like you don’t even know what you are doing even with age, what gives you the right to lecture me?” “Kaze, shut it! Are you trying to get yourself into more trouble?!” Agnes bellowed, almost passing out due to the anger. Kaze had offended Phoenix. “Me? Ignorant?!” Phoenix scoffed due to disbelief. Her eyes were burning with the flames of anger as she said, “You disrespectful little bastard, I will show you what ignorance is!” As the words
The Ridgesouth Quints may be a prominent family, but their influence did not extend as far as the South River State. If that were not the case, the Ridgesouth Quints would not have waited until now to appoint Darcy as a proxy to expand their influence in the South River State. Kent came from a wealthy family, and he was the mayor of Riverbank. He had no reason to curry favor with the Quints by giving them a villa. The Ridgesouth Quints should be the ones showering Kent with gifts to do business in Riverbank. “What? How dare you say that we are unworthy!”“If we are unworthy, what about you? You’re just a moocher.”“Insolence!” Joan and the others flipped out. “Bam.” Phoenix slammed her cane to the floor and said chillingly, “You said that the Quints are unworthy, boy. What about you? Why would the mayor give you a villa? “You better give a convincing answer. If you don’t, ha!” “It’s none of your business,” Kaze replied bluntly.Silence hung heavy in the air. E
“Gone too far?” Phoenix said furiously, “Do you want to get it too, boy?” “Shut up, Kaze!” Not wanting the situation to escalate, Agnes charged over and said ingratiatingly, “I’m sorry, Madam Quint. We didn’t do a good job raising Sky. He simply didn’t think straight in the heat of the moment.”“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry!” Darcy apologized as well. “I’ll wipe the blood off you, Madam Quint. We don’t want to get your hands dirty.” Joan pulled out a tissue and cleaned Phoenix’s hands fawningly while uttering sarcastically, “You have no idea, Madam Quint. Some people have the money. They just don’t want to spend it.“As far as I know, our little leader is living in a villa worth several hundred million dollars in Riverbank. The villa was a gift from Mayor Synder too.“They didn’t give a bracelet that was only worth half a million because they have no money. They simply do not care enough for you, Madam Quint. “They’re just trying to fob you off since you’re only an old
“We from Chrysant City have given Madam Quint a bullet-proof Lincoln stretch from Uleania. The Lincoln will be Madam Quint’s ride in Riverbank,” a middle-aged man with glasses said smugly.Kaze glanced at the Lincoln stretch not too far away, understanding the value of the car. “Madam Quint can’t be staying in the hotel throughout her trip. We, the branch in Takeno City, are a family in politics, so we lack funding. Still, we borrowed a villa from a major corporation to accommodate Madam Quint,” a representative of the Takeno Quints said with a chuckle. The Takeno Quints talked about borrowing. Their primary focus was on politics, so they could not be honest about their net worth. However, every branch of the Quints presented Phoenix with expensive gifts. Each gift was worth at least five million dollars. The five-hundred-thousand-dollar bracelet from Darcy’s family seemed modest in comparison. Sure enough, Phoenix grew upset and raised her free arm to slap the gift box
Even Darcy did not think Phoenix would deny her. It was true that Darcy was supposed to gather all family branches in Riverbank. She would have to discipline the unruly and unite the rest. Her goal was to consolidate the family’s power and resources under her control. It was a clear and comprehensive strategy. Darcy had not anticipated such a response from her first meeting with Phoenix. It was harsh. Phoenix completely dismissed her. Darcy, though accepting fault, felt hurt. Agnes felt like her world was crumbling down. If Darcy was stripped of her leadership role, the family would go back to when things were bad. Ever since Darcy became the family head in the South River State, Agnes was treated like royalty everywhere she went. She was addicted to the privileges. Agnes never wanted to go back to those days when people would look down on her.“Darcy, where’s the gift you got for Madam Quint? Hurry up and apologize to her.” Agnes grabbed Darcy hastily. A
“You should know that Madam Quint loves flowers, and you came empty-handed. No flowers, no gifts.” “You talk about respect for Madam Quint. It’s all talk. What have you done for her?” “You are hicks from a small place like Lilyrose. Where are your manners? You’re lucky to become the head of the South River Quints, but you will always lack refinement.” “I’m starting to worry about this leader taking us to new heights. I guess we can consider ourselves lucky if she doesn’t bring us down.” “Yeah! She was late and came empty-handed. This tells us all we need to know about this family.” Taking Joan’s lead, the other family members lay into Darcy’s family thick and hard. “That’s enough!” Before Kaze said anything, Sky had a go at these people. “You tried to set my sister up, and now you’re putting the blame on us!“Only you had information of Madam Quint’s flight. You only let us know half an hour before the plane touched down. “Why didn’t we come earlier to wait in the airp
Kaze narrowed his eyes at the woman and drew close. “You’re a member of the South River Quints. Should you stand by your leader instead of stirring the pot and causing the scene? “Does family even mean anything to you? “Are you defying the family? “Who are you to disrespect Madam Quint and the family?” The woman staggered back with each question, her face draining of color.“I… You…” Flustered, she glared at Kaze. Still, she was at a loss in the face of Kaze’s questioning. “I assure you, Madam Quint. My daughter, Joan, doesn’t mean any disrespect.” A grizzled-haired middle-aged man with glasses came forward with an ashen face. “She was just trying to defend your honor, Madam Quint. She’s upset because someone disrespected you and arrived late.” This person was manipulative. While sticking up for his daughter, he also took the opportunity to belittle Darcy. “Doesn’t mean any disrespect?” Kaze snapped back, “Madam Quint hasn’t said a thing, but a nobody came out